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Two educators from Duval County have initiated legal action against the school district, asserting that their rights under the First Amendment were infringed upon when they were penalized for their activities on social media.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — These two separate lawsuits have been filed against Duval County Public Schools, with the educators alleging that the district’s actions towards them breached their freedom of speech rights as protected by the First Amendment.
Attorney John Phillips, representing the educators, announced the legal proceedings on Monday, highlighting that both women were suspended following what he argues is “protected speech,” and have been dealing with repercussions for several months.
One of the lawsuits represents Hope McMath, a veteran AP Art History instructor at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Phillips points out that McMath has been suspended since September, without the district citing any classroom-related misconduct.
Phillips claims that the sole complaint on record originated from the group Moms for Liberty, which objected to what he describes as “conversational comments” McMath posted on social media, covering various subjects like conservative activist Charlie Kirk shortly after his passing.
First Coast News previously reported that a Florida Department of Education commissioner also submitted a complaint to the district regarding McMath.
Speaking Monday, McMath defended her work in the classroom:
“But I have never, and would never teach about my own political views or any kind of political rhetoric. A lot of people want to say I have somehow done harm. The real harm has been done by the people who have forced me to be taken out of that classroom.” said McMath.
The second lawsuit was filed for Haley Bartlett, a 20-year-old paraeducator at Oak Hill Academy.
Phillips says Bartlett was removed from her classroom after re-sharing a TikTok video also related to Kirk. He alleges she has spent months isolated from students, without explanation or clarity about her employment status.
Bartlett said the legal action was a last resort:
“I did not want to reach this point… but unfortunately, to be able to see my students — who I adore and love so much — and my coworkers who have had my back since day one, I have gotten to that point,” Haley Bartlett said.
District Responds
First Coast News reached out to DCPS for comment. A district spokesperson said that because the matter involves pending litigation, any response will be handled through the judicial process.
Both lawsuits are expected to move forward in the coming months.
First Coast News will continue to follow the cases and provide updates as they develop.
